Gallery
|
Shaheed Jathedar Talvinder Singh Babbar
Jathedar Sahib was born February 26, 1944 at village Panchhat (tehsil Phagwara, district Kapurthala). His father was Jathedar Jamit Singh Parmar, and his mothers were Mata Surjit Kaur Parmar and Mata Dhan Kaur Parmar. He has 3 brothers and 6 sisters. Jathedar Sahib finished grade 10, then took over the day to day farming duties from his father. He married Bibi Surinder Kaur in 1964, and had three children. He then immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1970.
In 1973, he started to do Nitnem and other paath. Later that year, his whole family started living in a manner befitting Sikhi. Jathedar Sahib took Amrit in 1975 at Panja Sahib, on Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's gurpurb. His family took Amrit in 1976.
After getting Amrit, Jathedar Talvinder Singh started missionary activities. His first act was to stop the sale of Guru Granth Sahib as an ordinary book in Canada. Later, he undertook the mission of elimination of un-Sikh like practices from the Gurdwaras in Canada. He, along with his friends, had to struggle hard to stop the entry of bare-headed people into the worship halls of the Gurdwaras.
During the late 1970's and early 1980’s, Jathedar Sahib travelled all over Canada and the United States, preaching about Sikhi. After the horrific events of Amritsar 1978, when Bhai Fauja Singh and 12 other Gursikhs were killed, Jathedar Sahib decided to go to India to effect change. In 1979, he quit his well paying job, his comfortable safe life, to go to India, and show the Punjabi people the Sikhi way of life. Jathedar Sahib started a group dedicated to the original Babbars known as the Akali Babbars.
L to R - Unknown, Gurmit Singh, Unknown, Avtar Singh, Giani Lal Singh, Ajaib Singh, and Satnam Singh The founders of the Akali Babbar movement were from the same city Vancouver, British Columbia. These brave fearless Sikhs also left a life of comfort, ease and convenience to fight the brutal British occupation of India. Jathedar Sahib found it fitting to call this new group Babbar Khalsa whose founders were also from British Columbia, Canada. Babbar Khalsa’s goal was to spread the teachings of the Gurus to the people of Punjab and bring to justice people convicted of human rights violation against the Sikhs. When Jathedar Sahib first arrived in Punjab Baba Nihal Singh of Haria Velaan helped him and his newly formed group Babbar Khalsa by giving them shelter and a base to operate out of. Jathedar Sahib met with other like minded Sikhs to start his mission.
L to R - Tarseem Singh, Unknown, Harnek Singh, Unknown, Shaheed Kalwant Singh Nagoke, Unknown, Shaheed Surjeet Singh, Resham Singh Germany, Shaheed Talvinder Singh Parmar, Dara Singh Langary, Fouji Singh , Wadhawa Singh and his son, Unknown, Bookan Singh, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown. From 1979 - 1981, Jathedar Sahib travelled all over Punjab doing sewa, Amrit sanchar's, teaching people how to live as a good Sikh. During this time, approximately 15,000 people took Amrit from Jathedar Sahib.
Jathedar Sahib was a very charismatic man, dressing in Nihang Singh Bana, with his colourful chola and dumalla. Looking at Jathedar Sahib, you forgot all your worries; he made you want to be a better person, and the best possible Sikh you could be. As Jathedar Sahib's popularity in Punjab rose, the Indian government started to notice him and his message to the Sikhs to stand up and fight for their rights. They did not want a strong Sikh people, so the Indian police created fake encounters to arrest him. When Jathedar Sahib escaped from Deheru Khaand mukabala the first ever police encounter between Sikhs and the police, the government put a 50,000 rupee reward for his capture dead or alive.
During this period the Akali Dal recognized Jathedar Sahib for his
accomplishments and his un-wavering dedication to Sikhi and the fight for
justice against a tyrannical regime in the administration of then Prime
Minister Indira Ghandi. The Akali Dal honoured Jathedar Sahib with one of
the most prestigious titles of "Jinda Shaheed" (living Martyr). In Sikh
history only a handful of Sikhs have ever been honoured with such a title.
As the Indian Military and Punjab Police hunted Jathedar Sahib and his
fellow Babbars a group of five Sikhs including Sant Jarnail Singh
Bhindranwale (Damdami Taksal), Sant Harcharn Singh Longowal (SGPC), Singh
Sahib Gurdial Singh Ajnoha (Jathedar, Siri Akal Takhat Sahib) ordered
Jathedar Sahib to leave India for he was more valuable to the Sikh nation
alive then dead. He did not want to leave, but he accepted the Panj Pyarae's
orders. He came back to Canada in May 1982 to a hero's welcome.
After arriving in Canada within a few weeks Jathedar Ji arranged for Bhai
Wadhawa Singh, Bhai Tarseem Singh, Bhai Satnam Singh, and Bhai Resham Singh
safe passage to then West Germany where the claimed refugee status.
Jathedar Sahib asked the other Babbars that were with him who else wanted to
leave India and continue the battle at a later date Bhai Amerjit Singh, Bhai
Gurnam Singh, Bhai Surjeet Singh, and Bhai Sewa Singh offered to stay and
continue to fight injustices in Punjab.
Of the group of Babbars which remained behind in India Bhai Sewa Singh was
captured and served a sentence of 14 years in jail and is now living with
his family in Punjab, Bhai Amerjit Singh was arrested, tortured, and killed
in a fake police encounter, Bhai Gurnam Singh and Bhai Surjeet Singh were
killed in on June 4, 1984 when they defended with their lives the military
invasion of the Golden Temple.
As soon as Jathedar Sahib arrived back in Canada he started Sikhi parchar
and Amrit Sanchars across Canada. He was a very popular speaker, and was
rarely at home.
In June 1983, he accepted an invitation from the England and
European sangats to come for a visit, and share his experiences. Unbeknownst
to Jathedar Sahib, the Indian Government had quietly put out an Interpol
warrant for his arrest. He was arrested on June 25, 1983 in West Germany.
India wanted West Germany to extradite Jathedar Sahib back to India right
away. His lawyers in West Germany, England, India, and Canada fought
extradition with great valour. On July 6, 1984, disgusted with India's lying
and cheating, the judge released Jathedar Sahib. Jathedar Sahib came home to
Canada to another hero's welcome on July 7, 1984. Jathedar Sahib spent over
13 months in solitary confinement in a West German Jail where he spoke no
German and the guards and inmates spoke no English. The guards kept him in
his cell for 23 hours and 40 minutes. He was only allowed outside his cell
for 20 minutes a day.
Jathedar Sahib was very hurt by Operation Bluestar. The destruction of
Harmandir Sahib and the Akal Takht Sahib was like the destruction of
himself.
In Nov 1985, Jathedar Sahib was arrested in Canada for being behind
the Air India crash. When crown provided no evidence the charges were stayed
and he was released in January 1986.
Jathedar Sahib was again arrested in Jun 1986 for conspiracy to bomb the
parliament buildings in India, he was charged along with eight other Babbars.
Of these nine men, six were released immediately. The other three men,
including Jathedar Sahib, went through a trial, and were found not guilty in
May 1987. Jathedar Sahib again spent over 10 months in solitary confinement in a Hamilton jail,
during that time Jathedar Sahib day consisted of been locked up for 23 hours and 40 minutes everyday.
In June 1988 Jathedar Sahib saw no other choice but to leave Canada to once
again fight human rights violation of his fellow Sikhs in India. He could
stand by no longer and let a tyrant government take advantage of his people.
In early October 1992, Jathedar Sahib was arrested by the Indian police. He
was tortured but stayed true to his Sikhi and Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The
Indian police created a fake encounter, in which Jathedar Sahib gave his Shaheedi.
Jathedar Sahib was a great Sikh. His Nitnem consisted of 18 banis. He got up
at 2am to do simran for 2 hours. He could do a Sahej Paath by himself in
four days. He would do a 12-13 hour Rohl. Jathedar Sahib gursikhi jeevan is
something to aspire to. The world would be a better place if there were more
men and women like him.
|
